Crate.



L. C. BRITT.

CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MARJI. 191s.

Patenred Jan. 23, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

L. C. BRITT.

CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31. new.

Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LESLIE C. BBITT, 0F GHARITON, IOWA.

CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed Jan. 23, 191?.

Application filed March 31, 1916. Serial No. 88,068.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEsLIn C. Bnrr'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chariton, in the county of Lucas and State of Iowa. have invented new and useful Improvements in Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements'in the construction of knock-down crates.

An object of the invention is to produce a crate of a simple, cheap and thoroughly effective construction wherein the sides and ends, when brought to upright position, will interlock and firmly engage one with the other to sustain each other in such upright position, but also whereby the looking or sustaining means may be readily actuated to permit of the ends being folded upon the bottom and the sides folded over the ends, the top upon one of the sides, and the members locked or latched in such position, and whereby the crate may be quickly folded or collapsed to produce a small bundle for storage or transportation. 1

With the above and other objects in View the improvement resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and falling within the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crate in its set up position constructed in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a sec-' tional View on the line 1t of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view illustrating the manner in which one of the ends is first brought to engage with one of the sides before the side and end are locked together, Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view approximately on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, Fig. 7 is a sectional view approximately on the line 77 of Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the metallic strap members providing the hinge for one of the ends and one of the hinges for each of the sides, Fig. 9 is a view of the device folded, Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the headed bolt members carried by the ends, and Fig. 11 is a similar view of one of the keeper members for the bolts carried by the sides.

The crate indicated by the numeral 15 is preferably of a substantially rectangular construction. The flat bottom 16 has secured upon its underface metal strap members which may be received in grooves in the said underface of the bottom. Each of the straps includes a transverse portion 17 that has its ends bent angularly, as at 18, and received in depressions in the side edges of the bottom 16. Longitudinal member's 19-19 are connected with the lateral strap or plate 17 and these members 19 also have their ends bent upwardly and angularly, as at 20, and passed through suitable depressions 21 in the ends adjacent the corners of the bottom 16. The angular members 18 of the strap member 17 have their ends formed with knuckles 21 forming one of the joints 'of a hinge which are adapted to be engaged by knuckles provided upon the ends of straps 22, the said straps being secured to the sides 23 and 24 of the crate, a pintle passing through the knuckles and hingedly connecting the sides with the angular members 13. By reference to Fig. 9 of the drawings it will be seen that the sides 23 and 24 less than one-half of the width of the base or bottom 16 whereby the said sides may be folded over the said bottom as well as over the end members 25 of the crate. when the said ends are folded upon the bottom. The angular members 20 of the strap portions 19 have their ends provided with knuckles 26 and so form one of the elements of a hinge 27, the said hinges being connected to the ends 25.

The top is indicated by the numeral 28, the same having its edges provided with suitable hooks 28 which are adapted to engage in eyes 29 in the sides 23 and 24: to sustain the top in its set up position upon the crate, while the said hooks may also engage with eyes 30 in the longitudinal edges of the bottom 16 to hold the top, sides and ends in a latched condition when the crate is collapsed.

Secured to the ends and extending laterally over the edges of the same are substantially T-headed members or bolts 32, and each of the sides 23 and 24 adjacent its end and also adjacent its upper edge has secured upon its inner face a plate 33. Each of these plates is provided with a curved slot 34 that is arranged concentric with respect to the hinge connection of the ends 25, or struck at a curvature from the said hinges, and the slots, at their lower ends are widened, as at 35, to receive the T-headed bolts 32 when the ends are swung inwardly and the sides are swung toward the said ends. When the sides and ends are thus arranged and the ends are swung outwardly to a vertical position or plates 33.

into contact with the end walls provided by the slot 34, the shanks of the hooks are engaged by spring pressed eatches36, one of which being pivotally secured to each of the Each of the catch members 36 comprises a flat member having curved edges and the spring 37 which engaging with the inner curved edge of each of said members 36 forces the same to bridge the slot 34, the stop 38 being provided upon each of the plates 33 to limit the movement of the catch members 36 in this direction. It will thus be apparent that the shank of the bolt 32 will ride over the outer curved edge of each of the catch members 36 forcing the said members 36 against the pressure of the springs 37 out of the path of the slot 34 until after the bolt passes the engaging end 39 of the said catch when the spring will again exert a tension to bring the end 39 of the catch 36 into engagement with the shank of the bolt and thus effectively lock the sides and ends together. Each of the catches is provided with an ofiset portion or finger hold 40 whereby the catch may be operated to swing the same out of engagement with the shank of the bolt members 32 and so permit of the bolt members being swung inwardly until their T-shaped ends aline with the widened portion '35 of the slots, to permit of the sides 33 and 34 being swung outwardly to release the said sides from the ends of the crate.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

the simplicity of the device, as well as the l advantages thereof will, it is thought, be perfectly apparent to those skilled in the art to which such invention appertains without further detailed description.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

In a device for the purpose set forth, the combination with movable side and end members, of T-headed bolts upon the ends extending outwardly therefrom at the upper corners thereof, plates upon the sides at the upper corners thereof provided each with an arcuate slot having an enlarged portion at one of the ends thereof to permit of the entrance of the T-shaped head to the said slot when the ends are swung inwardly in a line with the enlarged end of the said slot, :1 spring pressed latch upon each of the plates and normally straddling the slot thereof and adapted to be contacted and pressed below the slot by the shank of the bolt when the end is swung to a vertical position and to engage with the said shank when the end is in such vertical position.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LESLIE G. BRITT.

Witnesses:

WALTER O. Goonnn, GEO. F. CARPENTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

